London fireworks welcome in 2017

London has welcomed in 2017 with spectacular Fireworks and Illuminations to see in the New Year – and with a Princely twist.

All eyes were on the River Thames for the annual fireworks display as the crowds listen out for the iconic bongs of Big Ben. The impressive display managed to pay tribute to the late, great Prince with purple colours and the opening bars of his classic ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ track from Purple Rain. You can watch the festivities here as millions around the country celebrate the start of 2017 and the full playlist is below. Fittingly the display was bookended by three David Bowie tracks including Ziggy Stardust. These, the first fireworks organised by London’s labour Mayor Sadiq Khan also contained the strong anti-Brexit and pro diversity message that “London is Open”, to investment, to visitors and to the diversity which this iconic World City embraces and exemplifies.

In 1898, to widespread bemusement, a small Provincial Newspaper in an equally small town in the South West corner of Ireland sonorously warned the Czar of Russia that it knew what he was up to and he should be careful how he proceeded for “The Skibbereen Eagle” was wise to his game and in future would be keeping its eye on him! It is doubtful that Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias, even noticed the Eagle’s admonitions but as history soon proved he should have paid closer attention to the Eagle’s insightful opinions!

Today, powered by its readers and contributors, from its cyber eyries in Ireland and the centres of the Irish Diaspora The Eagle casts its Cold Eye on Life and Death and much in between.